Chief of the Prophets

Chief of the Prophets — Page 112

Chapter Seven 112 did not have any other guardian besides Muḥammad sa. Among all these wives, Muḥammad sa loved ‘Ᾱ’ishah ra most dearly. It was not because she was young and pretty or solely because of her extraordinary intelligence and wisdom; rather, because of her higher status in spirituality and physical purity compared to all the other wives. There is also a Ḥadīth that once the other esteemed wives complained to Muḥammad sa about ‘Ᾱ’ishah ra regarding a domestic matter at which Muḥammad sa kept quiet. On further insistence, Muḥammad sa said: Do not bother me about ‘Ā’ishah, as the Divine Inspiration does not come to me on any of the beds except that of ‘Ā’ishah. 1 By God, how holy a husband was he, whose liking was based on nothing but holiness and purity. And how holy was the wife whose standard of purity was so high that the angel who brought the revelation did not hesitate to go to her quarters. Muḥammad sa is reported to have said a few times that he loved ‘Ᾱ’ishah more dearly than all other people. 2 Once he said that there had been many perfect men, but very few perfect women. Then he named Ᾱsiyah, the wife of Pharaoh, and Mary, the daughter of ‘Imrān 3 , and said that ‘Ᾱ’ishah ra had the same excellence over women that the best Arabian food Tharīd has over other foods. 4 The superb work of training and educating the Muslim women carried out by ‘Ᾱ’ishah ra has no match. A very large and critical portion of the traditions of Muḥammad sa is based on her narrations. Her knowledge, excellence, and understanding of religion were such 1 Bukhārī, Bāb Fa. l ‘Ᾱ’ishah (Virtues of ‘Ᾱ’ishah). 2 Bukhārī, Bāb Manāqib Abū Bakr ra (Virtues of Abū Bakr ra ). 3 Mary, the mother of Jesus as is referred to as ‘Mariam bint ‘Imrān’ in Islam. [Publisher] 4 Bukhārī, Bāb Fa. l ‘Ᾱ’ishah (Virtues of ‘Ᾱ’ishah).